Category: Criminal Justice Reform

PHILADELPHIA–”Although the court’s $25 million civil rights class-action settlement over prison conditions is a significant step, it is unfortunate that it’s taken repeated judicial intervention for the City of Philadelphia to fulfill its obligations. Judge McHugh’s ruling underscores the city’s ongoing failure to address the safety and dignity of incarcerated individuals. The well-being of those in custody in the Philly jails and the employees who work there should never be an afterthought, and we hope this ruling is a catalyst for lasting reform.

“We have repeatedly called attention to the inhumane conditions faced by those held in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. The severe lack of transparency, inadequate staffing, and overcrowded facilities are ultimately a threat to both human rights and public safety. The city’s failure to heed these warnings and take decisive action has left the courts no choice but to step in.

“Our office has been advocating for the solutions outlined by Judge McHugh in his order, including assessing the release of low-risk, medically vulnerable individuals. While the order outlines processes to address the understaffing, the jail won’t be able to hire itself out of this crisis. We need to lower the population so that at least the oldest jail can be retired and the staff there reassigned where needed. These measures are critical steps that could significantly ease the burden on staff and improve safety conditions. 

“The Defender Association reiterates its call for the city to work in collaboration with every justice system stakeholder, community leaders and advocates to implement changes that prioritize safety, transparency, and accountability within our jails and across the justice system. But to ensure these changes are lasting and meaningful, we need to establish a permanent oversight body that can collaborate with prison administrators to prevent similar crises in the future. 

“Those incarcerated on State Road and the prison employees are citizens of Philadelphia. We can’t afford to leave them out of the public safety conversation.”

PHILADELPHIA–“The Defender Association fully realizes that immediate action is needed to address the conditions in Kensington. But the City’s May 8 “sweep” of homeless people signals a return to draconian and ineffective crime and drug policies. We are also troubled by the lack of communication we have received from the city in advance of these actions. This information vacuum is particularly concerning as it potentially compromises our ability to serve our clients.

“To be sure, the Defender Association and the Parker Administration have very different policy perspectives. We have long believed that it’s a bad idea to rely on the criminal legal system to solve a public health crisis. The unintended harms of the planned “jail vs. treatment” strategy outweigh any derived benefits for people in addiction. The city’s action’s also threaten to overwhelm the court and jail system, and will likely shift the current problem to other neighborhoods that haven’t been receiving the same amount of attention.

“Despite our efforts to be included in the discussions around Kensington, the Defender Association has received little information about the city’s plans. This is troubling because our office represents a significant percentage of adult men and women from Kensington. From 2017 to 2022 we provided services for nearly 12,000 clients from this neighborhood. Getting timely details about upcoming plans is critical for preparing our attorneys and social workers to serve what will undoubtedly be an uptick in cases stemming from the increased law enforcement activity.

“We can discuss and debate policy. But there’s no question that anyone arrested for a crime–in Kensington or elsewhere–has a right to legal counsel. As the city’s public defender, we feel it is incumbent upon the city to include our office in any discussion that relies so heavily on our justice system.”

“As we work toward solutions that will benefit everyone impacted by the activities in Kensington, the Defender Association looks forward to a more open dialogue with city officials and stakeholders.”

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